Cop charged with harassing women and fabricating evidence sentenced

Ex-Camden cop, Faison bodyguard sentenced
By GEORGE MAST • Courier-Post Staff • June 25, 2010
Jun. 26, 2010

A former Camden police officer and former bodyguard for the mayor was sentenced to one year of probation this morning on charges stemming from an investigation into inappropriate contact with numerous women in the city.

Keith Hicks, 51, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of harassment and one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

The charges stem from accusations made by three women who say they were picked up and harassed by Hicks, a one time bodyguard for former Mayor Gwendolyn Faison.

During the sentencing in Superior Court in Camden this morning, Judge Irvin Snyder noted the veteran officer had served faithfully for many years, but in the end betrayed the public's trust.

"You let your community down by what has taken place," Snyder said to Hicks. Hicks, dressed in a blue suit, said little during the brief hearing.

As part of the sentence, Hicks will be barred from ever holding any public office in the state.

Assistant Camden County Prosecutor Mark Chase said his office's main priority was to have Hicks removed from his position as quickly as possible. Hicks was suspended from the city police force without explanation in August.

"The important thing for our office was to make sure he wasn't in a position again to use his office or badge to victimize people," Chase said.

Hicks' harassment charges, which are disorderly persons charges, stem from incidents on April 3 and July 9, 2009 when the 19-year-veteran ordered women into his personal pickup truck while he was off-duty but in uniform. Both women than claimed Hicks touched them offensively inside his truck.

Then on Aug. 3, Hicks ordered a woman into his police cruiser at 6th and Royden streets but lied about the location on a police report. The woman claimed Hicks drover her around the city for about 45 minutes before demanding she partially undress.

Hicks eventually charged her with an outstanding warrant.

Hicks, who started at the department in 1991, worked in the mayor's detail for about five years, starting in January 2001.

While serving as Faison's bodyguard, Hick's overtime pay came into question in 2001.

Hicks, whose regular annual pay was $58,000 at the time, earned nearly $27,000 in overtime in the first 11 months on the job as Faison's body guard.

Hicks accompanied Faison to events throughout the region and had traveled with her to political fundraisers and other events that had little to do with city business.

Faison has authorized the overtime payments to Hicks, which came at a time when the city was nearing takeover by the state because of years of poor fiscal management.Reach George Mast at (856) 486-2465 at [email protected]